‘The Nutcracker’ comes to Hamden

Published
7:00 pm EST, Thursday, December 6, 2012

HAMDEN — The Cecchetti Ballet Theatre, a not-for-profit dance company, will perform the full-length production of Tchaikovsky’s most-beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, showing Dec. 15 and 16, at the Hamden High School auditorium. This production features a cast of over 100 children and adults from Hamden and surrounding towns.

This year performing the role of Clara and The Sugar Plum Fairy will be Krista Kasperson. Krista, now a senior at Cheshire High School, performed in her first Nutcracker when she was just 4 years old and has been dancing ever since. During the summer of 2011, Krista was given the distinct honor of competing at the Cecchetti International Classical Ballet Competition held in Manchester, England. She has recently passed her Cecchetti Advanced ballet examination, and after 13 years of hard work she is thrilled to be Clara in this magical performance.

Junior Natalie Hackett will perform the role of The Snow Queen. Natalie has been dancing at the Cheshire Dance Centre since she was 4 years old, and has been a part of the Cecchetti Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker cast for the past 14 years. Natalie recently received Honors on her Advanced Cecchetti ballet examination. This past summer, she traveled to California to participate in the Cecchetti USA summer course where she was awarded the first Enrico Cecchetti Merit Scholarship for full tuition, room and board to next year’s Residential Summer Course being held in Richmond, Virginia.

Returning to the cast this year is Greg Bomke Lennox, a former resident of Hamden, who will perform along side Cheshire High School senior Olivia Druckrey in the Candy Cane pas de deux. Mr. Lennox has danced professionally with American Repertory Ballet, and has performed as guest artist with Apollo’s Banquet, Ilya Gaft Dance Theatre, and Adirondack Dance Company.

Traditional and original choreography staged by Betty Seibert, Artistic Director for the Company.

For tickets go to TUTUTIX.COM or call 855-222-2TIX (2849). For more information call 203-699-8888. Performances are Saturday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m., at Hamden High School auditorium.

Advance tickets are $25 for Adults, $20 for Children 11 and under, and $20 for Senior Citizens 62 and over. All seats are reserved. Student’s aged 12 to college, with a valid student ID, may purchase Student Rush tickets available for only $15 at the door one-half hour prior to each performance.